Lesson 3 — Earth’s Energy Budget (Worksheet Questions)

Use the Earth’s Energy Budget diagram showing sunlight distribution (100 units total) to determine the amounts reflected by different parts of the Earth system. Match each part with the number of units reflected back to space.

• 4 units

• Atmosphere

• 6 units

• Surface

• 30 units

• Total reflected

• 20 units

• Clouds

Use the Earth’s Energy Budget diagram showing sunlight distribution (100 units total) to determine the amounts absorbed by different parts of the Earth system. Match each part with the number of units absorbed.

• 3 units

• Total absorbed

• 16 units

• Atmosphere

• 70 units

• Surface

• 51 units

• Clouds

Based on the Earth’s Energy Budget diagram, complete the "Trapped IN" table for energy held within the atmosphere and clouds (include everything absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds plus energy transferred to the atmosphere). Which values correctly complete the table?

• Atmosphere 46 units; Clouds 3 units; Total 49 units

• Atmosphere 30 units; Clouds 20 units; Total 50 units

• Atmosphere 16 units; Clouds 3 units; Total 19 units

• Atmosphere 49 units; Clouds 21 units; Total 70 units

About ______ %, or 1/3 of the sun’s incoming energy is reflected back out to space.

• 25%

• 33%

• 50%

• 67%

About ______ %, or 1/2 of the energy that strikes the earth is absorbed by the earth’s surface.

• 33%

• 45%

• 50%

• 67%

The remaining ______ % is absorbed in the atmosphere.

• 10%

• 17%

• 25%

• 33%

What percentage of the sun’s energy reaches the earth?

• 50%

• 70%

• 100%

• 33%

All of the sun’s energy that reaches the Earth is either reflected back into space or absorbed by the different parts of Earth. How much energy is reflected directly back to space? ________. How much energy gets absorbed? ________.

• Reflected 20 units; Absorbed 80 units

• Reflected 30 units; Absorbed 70 units

• Reflected 33 units; Absorbed 67 units

• Reflected 25 units; Absorbed 75 units

After the energy gets absorbed, it radiates back out as heat. This is how our atmosphere gets heated. What is the total amount of energy that gets radiated out?

• 49 units

• 51 units

• 70 units

• 30 units

Add the amount of energy that is absorbed by and transferred to the atmosphere. Remember that clouds are part of the atmosphere. How does that total compare to the amount radiated from the atmosphere?

• Total is 49 units, which equals the amount radiated from the atmosphere

• Total is 46 units, which is less than the amount radiated from the atmosphere

• Total is 30 units, which equals the amount radiated from the atmosphere

• Total is 70 units, which is greater than the amount radiated from the atmosphere